Mongo3451

It would be nice to be able to get a 2nd for ea of the following: Url, Hester and Harris. At that point I would cut Pace, Omiyale, Kruetz and Vasher. Use those 2nds to draft ROT, ROG and DT. Likely not, but one could dream of a quick OL build.

We can only hope he was hedging. Let me add one more item to our favor. I think Lovie would settle with the Bears for less than he is slated to make so he can get out of the contract. Lovie is still employable in this league and would rather work than sit home for two years.

Quick question: How did Williams play last week? I misssed the game.

Or lord Cowher...

Lovely

That's why Olsen stays put. You can equate his value as to when teams would rather kick the ball out of bounds than to kick it to Hester. Olsen brings a special talent and as long as he is drawing interest running routes, I don't give a shit how he blocks. If he's drawing interest in space, he's thrown an indirect block by drawing said interest. Same with Wolfe. It's the ineptitude of our coaching and OL that have rendered him ineffective in the stat category.

Guy, it's Biggs not Briggs. As far as the Pace comments goes; I think Pompei summed it up when he said Pace was one on one with Allen for 17 pass plays ans Allen disrupted 10 of them. That is horrendous. Maybe Biggs is claiming Pace was injured in warmups. Regardless, it was and still is an idiot comment.

Gotta say I agree with all points with the exception of: 1st - Never be embarrassed of who you root for. That's what being a fan is all about. You go through tough times. I've been a fan since Dad bought me the full Bears uniform back in 72". I was Sayers BTW and big bro was 51. Wear your midnight blue and orange with pride!!! 2nd- I really gotta call you out on the OL comment. Most on this board wanted to draft the hell out of OL the last couple of years and you commented on how ridiculous this was for us to want to spend our high picks on OL. Now you say we throw our highest pick away and mention how the OL sucks. You are now in direct contradiction with yourself or two years behind most of the board. Welcome back to reality. Quite frankly, when I see you post, I know you know football. But this post lets me know you can be a valuable contributor on this board, if you get away from the one sentence slams and structure some meaningful commentary. Keep up the good work and deliver us some posts on how you would fix this team!

Move Hester back to PR/KR/slot. He won games for us in this role. He has done nothing to win for us as WR. Disagree w/ this one. One, you have to face a tad bit of reality. Hester signed a new deal, much of which is based on WR tied incentives. He is not going to willingly give up those incentives, and frankly, I doubt he gives up the WR role either way. Not only that, but I argued all along that his value as a return man was short term. History shows that. Teams eventually adjust and adapt. My thing is, he’s put in all this time trying to be a #1 and has yet to develop any rapport with Cutler. I put that on Hester, as the QB has to be able to trust his wideout. That being said, I do think Hester can re-kindle some of the fire gone from the return game. This will also give Knox more PT at WR; a move I think suits both skillsets. While moving Hester out, move the other Devin in the #1 spot. I have no issue w/ giving him more playing time, but #1? How about he prove himself a bit more before we elevate him that far. While we are on the subject of WRs, how about activate Iglesias and de-activate Davis. Not talking about annointing the guy, but I do think he had some chemistry with Cutler. It’s tryout time and I think Aromashodu has shown more than the other WR’s that have not played much. I have no defensive suggestions for this year. I do. Make the CBs start pressing our WRs at the LOS more. If they get beat, so what. they are anyway. See if they can play more physical and prevent the dinks and dumks all day long. Start playing Gaines Adams and Gilbert more. Gave up a 2nd for Adams and a 3rd for Gilbert. Also, try to get Jamar Williams and DJ Moore playing time. All young players who have any potential future need to get playing time and increased looks. I am not saying we bench Briggs to start Williams. Pick your spots. Move him around between LB positions, but get him on the field more often. I’ll take that. Offseason: sign best big reciever out there, While I have come around on our needing a WR, and as you said, preferably a bigger one, I only have an issue w/ the "best" comment. We have tons of holes, and simply are not going to have the money to spend big to fill all those holes. Wrs in particular can get expensive. Very expensive. As much as I think we need a bigger WR, I just don't think we need to "blow our wad" on a guy like Brandon Marshall, or an equally expensive guy. I guess we’ll have to see what the wad is. cut/trade Harris, I don't see much trade value, and frankly, don't see the point in cutting him. His play has actually improved of late. I sort of wonder if a coach like Cowher couldn't light a fire under him. If we have no one better, there is no point in eating the cap just to get rid of him. As bad as he is, he is likely still our best DT, which is a sad statement. But again, you can only do so much at once. Now I will say this. He may not be a starter anymore. I think he’s becoming one of those cancer types. He’s the engine, but if my man Cowher comes in the DT’s are getting bigger. cut/trade Vasher, cut AP, cut Shaffer or Omiyale(you pick), let Vasher has ZERO trade value, especially w/ his contract. Cut. AP as well. Time to get RB depth that actually provided depth at RB. I'll take Omiyale over Shaffer. At least w/ Omiyale, we can say he is young and could still develop/improve. Also, we need to look at him at OT. I don't recall Shaffer's contact. I have no problem cutting him, but would rather let him compete in camp. If he doesn't earn a spot on the 53 man roster, bye bye. If he does, he sticks. I cut AP somewhere I think. If not, thanks for reminding me. Anderson walk, sign Wale to a modest extension, Anderson walk, fine. But you think we are going to sign Wale to a modest extension? We are talking about DE, a position where average players get "paid". Wale has been actually having a pretty good year. While he will not warrant a mega deal by any means, he could well warrant a good bit more than a "modest extension". Never know, maybe we get lucky. sign a back up RB, cut Wolfe, I would sign a backup RB, but I don't really see the need to cut Wolfe. I like him as a #3, and further, he is one of our best special teams players. As much as I’ve rooted for Wolfe, he’s shown me nothing to keep him. I guess he can play out his rookie deal since he can play teams. sign a DT, sign a CB. Um, are you Danny Snyder? Seriously. Just take a look at how many players you want to sign in FA. Not only that, but most of the positions you want to sign are considered premier positions. After eating a LOT of money firing all our coaches, and then signing a big name like Cowher, you think we are going to shell out another $100m in bonuses? Hell yes, it’s not my money!!! Hope I didn't forget to get rid of any dead weight. How about Rashied Davis. Yep, him too.

This quickly became an off-season "how to fix the team" post. Today, I am reluctantly ready to bite. Here's I fix it in order of importance. Right now: It's baptism by fire for Williams. As a matter of fact, I would encourage Williams and Beekman to spend a lot of time getting to know each other in an anticapatory way. Move Hester back to PR/KR/slot. He won games for us in this role. He has done nothing to win for us as WR. While moving Hester out, move the other Devin in the #1 spot. He's the biggest most physical reciever we have, plus he's a fav of Cutler. (can't hurt) STOP trying to establish the run game. That is almost blasphemy from me to suggest, but... Sorry, our OL is so bad, let us try to establish a run type offense through short passing and the occassional shot downfield. I'm not sure if I've seen play action work all year. I have no defensive suggestions for this year. Offseason: Fire Lovie and staff during the week 17 post game interview and not allow him another "trust me" moment. Announce the hiring of Cowher and give him the podium. I'm done with this staff. I'd only keep the ST coach and the ball boy that runs fast. That's only if Lord Cowher sees fit. Cut Pace, sign the best left OG out there, sign best big reciever out there, cut/trade Harris, cut/trade Vasher, cut AP, cut Shaffer or Omiyale(you pick), let Anderson walk, sign Wale to a modest extension, make the effort to move Tillman to FS(no-I will never get off that bandwagon), sign a back up RB, cut Wolfe, sign a DT, sign a CB. If all this could be done by the first week of free agency, I'll be fine. BTW - keep Url and Olsen. Url is still a top 2 player on a very weak defense. We don't get equal value for trading him. Olsen is the only reliable target Cutler has, is smarter than Nfo thinks and is also Cutlers buddy. (keep the franchise happy) Hope I didn't forget to get rid of any dead weight. Draft a road grader OT and OG. They are now your starting right side if Omiyale / Shaffer suck for the next 5 games. Beekman is now the backup center and Garza the flex guard. Now draft the best RB and FB you can find.(Cut McKie - finally) Whatever is left take on defense. Gear up for next year.

agreed

http://www.talkbears.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5270 Please read the attached thread. The Bears are set up better than New England on paper. It begins and ends with Bill the Brain though. Which we are not even close.

My guess is that he could have knocked it out in detail in about 2minutes. But, he looks to revel in the face time and was setting it up for dramatic effect. He gets a pass this week. Looking forward to the next episode.

I wish I had the tools to break down film like that. He did a nice job.

I'd rather picture him delivering an emotional pregame that gets Cutller in a mental state that has him a competetive zone rather than playing not to lose.

LOL! The picture of that just ruined my joygasm. Thank goodness it was just a joke and I can go back to dreaming.

The way the ball came over Olsens head prevented him from gathering up for a dive at it. Heck, he barely got his hands up in time. Then again, plays usually have aftermaths and it looked like Olsen wasn't extending any farther than he did.

You bring up the Steelers and Pats as examples and the structures aren't greatly different. All three are well managed fiscally. The main difference is the two winning teams draft the hell out of OL and have zero dependence on FA for OL. Upright QB's play winning football. That has nothing to do with Phillips and everything to do with Angelo and Lovie. Phillips may be a bean counter, but don't think for a second he doesn't know the shelf life of an NFL player and what W and L's look like.

Maybe we should combine posts? I think we were typing simultaneously.

One thing I have noticed in seeing film on Cutler in Denver VS Chicago is his mechanics. At times his mechanics with the Bears are atrocious. One thing my brother picked up in camp is that he thought Cutler practiced lazy. In asking him why he thought this a concern; he simply stated "you practice like you play". My brother, being a qualified leader of men through many years with the Marines expounded his assessment by stating by going hard all the time, you get used to where people will be in battle and /or game situations. Most importantly, when everyone works there ass off for a common goal it develops a steeliness that translates into more fight when it matters. Here's what I see. I see Cutler backpedalling when he doesn't need too. He also is not leaning into most of his throws. Both of these will definately lead to innaccurracy.(Grossman like) Is Cutler pussing out on us or is he just in need of a towel snap to get back to good mechanics? Also, I wonder why the coaches have not corrected this.

I believe Phillips is our only hope to get rid of Lovie and Co. Phillips is a bean counter and has the family's ear moreso than anyone else. He performed a coup with the stadium, firmly placing loot in the family coffers for years to come. He has turned the Bears into a product, remember the unprecedented licencing agreement he made with Bank One. Every team in the NFL followed suit. The guy is brilliant. If he can somehow convince the family that dumping Lovie and maybe JA will be money well "invested", the family may heed his advice. JA was most all our BFF for the Cutler deal. Phillips would/could be our saviour.

Problem is; you rarely get anything you can hold on to from our GM. I THINK IT'S LESS ABOUT FOCUSSING ON WINNING THIS GAME THAN IT IS - GETTING BAD PRESS. JA - brings in Cutler but fails to protect him = bad press Lovie - Mr. "trust me" finally places his neck on the chopping block by taking reign of "his" defense and it sucks. Marinelli - Brought in as the best off-season aquisition (BC) Has made zero impact. Cutler - despite the lack of OL and weapons does not get a free pass for making so many ill advised throws in the red zone. Those are our headliners and none of them get good press. That's why they are not talking. Your folks are better off hearing your version of the truth.

Both you and Nfo make good points here. I remember that draft and actually stood up for Angelo's philosophy. I thought it was really bright to draft huge upside players, even if they were a little early, as you may get an impact player with talent exceeding others from the draft slot. Jerry should have known better. I know I didn't. Two years ago, it seemed Angelo learned his lesson by drafting a good balance of talent / need. This year he was back to old tricks with Gilbert, Moore and Melton.(all of which have done nothing)

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mulligan/18...ully20.article# First off, the title says it for me,"I'm Not Alarmed". At this juncture, it's like the boy that gets punched by his big brother and with tears welling up in his eyes, says "It didn't hurt". I highlighted the most disturbing portion of this article. Since when is NOT about work ethic and effort?? Work ethic and effort lead to execution. Execution and knowing you can duplicate it is what breeds confidence. Didn't Angie and Lovie call out the team a couple years ago for being over-confident? Now Angie is saying that's what it's all about. Trust me, I get what he is trying to say, but I think it is a crock of horse crap.